Gourmet Seafood Cassolette Delight

Gourmet Seafood Cassolette Delight sounds like an elegant and indulgent dish. Here’s a refined concept and recipe for it—perfect for impressing guests or treating yourself to a luxurious seafood meal.

🦞 Gourmet Seafood Cassolette Delight

What is a Cassolette?

A cassolette is a small, ovenproof dish typically used for individual servings of rich, often gratinéed (browned under a broiler) preparations. In French cuisine, it often involves seafood, a creamy sauce, and a crispy topping.

🍽️ Ingredients (Serves 4 individual cassolettes)

Seafood:

• 200g (7 oz) scallops, halved

• 200g (7 oz) raw shrimp, peeled and deveined

• 200g (7 oz) white fish (e.g., cod or halibut), cubed

• 100g (3.5 oz) cooked lobster meat (optional for luxe touch)

• 1 tbsp olive oil

• Salt and pepper

Vegetables & Aromatics:

• 1 small shallot, finely diced

• 1 garlic clove, minced

• 100g (3.5 oz) mushrooms, finely chopped

• 1 small leek, white part only, sliced thinly

Sauce:

• 2 tbsp unsalted butter

• 2 tbsp all-purpose flour

• 250 ml (1 cup) seafood or fish stock

• 125 ml (½ cup) dry white wine

• 150 ml (⅔ cup) heavy cream

• 1 tsp Dijon mustard

• ½ tsp lemon zest

• Fresh herbs (chives, tarragon, or parsley), chopped

Topping:

• 50g (½ cup) grated Gruyère or Parmesan cheese

• 2 tbsp breadcrumbs

• 1 tbsp melted butter

🔥 Instructions

1. Prepare Seafood:

   • Lightly season seafood with salt and pepper.

   • Sear shrimp, scallops, and fish briefly in olive oil (1–2 minutes per side) until just opaque. Remove and set aside.

2. Sauté Veggies:

   • In the same pan, sauté shallots, garlic, leeks, and mushrooms until soft and fragrant. Set aside.

3. Make the Sauce:

   • In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to make a roux. Cook 1–2 minutes.

   • Gradually whisk in wine and stock. Simmer until slightly thickened.

   • Add cream, mustard, lemon zest, herbs, salt and pepper. Simmer 2–3 minutes. Stir in sautéed vegetables.

4. Assemble the Cassolette:

   • Divide the seafood among 4 buttered ramekins or small gratin dishes.

   • Pour the sauce-vegetable mixture over the seafood.

   • Combine cheese, breadcrumbs, and melted butter. Sprinkle over each ramekin.

5. Bake & Broil:

   • Bake at 180°C (350°F) for 12–15 minutes, or until bubbly.

   • Broil for 2–3 minutes until the top is golden and crisp.